CHAPTER 2

Max pedaled furiously, his heart pounding as he arrived at the pool party fifteen minutes later. 

The sound of loud music and laughter filled the air, but he had no time to focus on that. His only mission was to find Amanda.

 Pushing through the crowd, he tried to keep calm, but a group of familiar faces spotted him.

"Hey, look! It's the campus charity case," one of the guys sneered, pointing at Max like he was a circus act.

"What's up, Rags-to-No-Riches?" asked someone else with a mean grin. Are you here to bring us food or take away our trash?"

Everyone in the group started laughing. A third person spoke up and said, "Nah, man. I think he's just here to look through the trash himself." "You need to get dressed, right?"

He clenched his hands and ground his teeth, but Max didn't stop. He had to find Amanda. Even though the words hurt, he wouldn't back down.

At that very moment, Johnson's words boomed over the loudspeaker, making everyone pay attention. "You look more beautiful than any other girl on campus, Amanda." May I ask you to date me?"

There was a wave of cheers all around him. "Say yes! Say yes!" the crowd chanted in unison, adding fuel to Max's growing anxiety. He pushed harder, his body weaving through the sea of students.

Then her voice came through loud and clear. "Yes, Mr. Johnston! Yes, I will!" 

Max was hit hard in the gut by what Amanda said.

His steps faltered, and for a moment, the world blurred around him. Johnson's loud, triumphant voice sliced through his shock. "Baby, I’ve got something special for you."

Johnson pulled back a cloth, dramatically revealing a shiny new sports car. Gasps of admiration rippled through the crowd.

"Johnson's the man!" someone cheered.

"Amanda’s so lucky!" a girl squealed in envy.

Max froze in place, watching in disbelief as Amanda smiled and threw her arms around Johnson, kissing him deeply. Everything he thought he knew about Amanda—about their relationship—seemed to shatter right in front of him.

Unable to control his emotions any longer, Max stormed through the last cluster of students, eyes blazing. "Amanda!" he shouted, voice raw with pain and disbelief.

The music screeched to a halt. All eyes turned to Max, standing there in his worn clothes, looking like an outsider in a world that was never his. Amanda's expression changed from one of surprise to discomfort.

"Max?" she asked, stepping back. "What are you doing here?"

Johnson stepped forward, a smug grin plastered on his face. "Who let this sewer rat in? Someone call security!"

Max ignored him, his focus solely on Amanda. "Tell them, Amanda. Tell them about us. Tell them the truth."

Amanda's face hardened, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I don’t know what you’re talking about," she said coldly. "We’ve never been together."

Laughter erupted from the crowd. "Looks like Poverty Boy’s lost his mind!" someone shouted, fueling the mockery.

"Maybe he's been living off dumpster scraps for too long!" another yelled, the crowd roaring with laughter.

Johnson, feeding off the crowd's energy, slung his arm around Amanda possessively. "Listen, Pizza Boy, you’ve probably fried your last brain cell working all those bottom-tier jobs, so let me break it down for you: Amanda. Doesn’t. Know. You."

Max’s breath hitched, the pain in his chest unbearable.

Johnson smirked, his eyes glinting with malice. "But hey, I’m in a good mood tonight. How about I offer you a job? Maybe as my personal janitor. You can start by licking my shoes clean, you mangy mutt."

The crowd burst into wild laughter.

"Yeah, get on your knees, Trash Boy!" another taunted.

"That’s all you're good for, you broke joke!" the insults continued to rain down.

Johnson, growing more emboldened by the minute, reached down and squeezed Amanda’s butt in front of everyone.

 "This, right here, is what a real man looks like," he gloated.

 "You pathetic little worm. Why don’t you scurry off before I call animal control to deal with your flea-bitten hide?"

Max boiled with anger, couldn't control himself anymore, and punched and landed on Johnson’s face. 

Max stood there, fists clenched and chest heaving, glaring down at Johnson, his voice cold and steady. "That’s a gift from me, Johnson. Remember it."